1, 1, 1, 3, 5, 7, 7, 7 octanitro-3, 5-diaza heptane



United States Patent 1,1,1,3,5,7,7,7 OCTANTTRO-3,5-DIAZA HEPTALNE Milton B. Frankel, Pasadena, and Karl Klager, Monrovia, Califl, assignors to Aerojet-General Corporation, Azusa, Calif., a corporation of Ohio No Drawing. Filed Apr. 13, 1956, Ser. No. 578,152

6 Claims. (Cl. 260-583) This invention relates to a new composition of matter useful as a high explosive and a method for its preparation. In particular, this invention relates to 1,1,l,3,5,7,7,7- octanitro-3,5-diaza heptane having the structural formula:

This application is a continuation-in-part of our copending United States patent application Serial No. 416,384, filed March 15, 1954, now abandoned.

i1,1,1,3,5,7,7,7-octanitro-3,S-diaza heptane is prepared by reacting 1,1,1,7,7,7-hexanitro-3,5-diaza heptane with nitric acid, in accordance with the general reaction scheme set forth below:

EXAMPLE Preparation of 1,1,1,3,5,7,7,7-0ctanitro-3,5-diaza heptane A solution-of 100% nitric acid in acetic anhydride was cooled to about 5-l0 C. and 1,1,l,7,7,7-hexanitro-3,5- diaza heptane was added dropwise. The solution was poured on ice causing a solid to precipitate. The product was collected, washed with Water and dried. Recrystallized from cyclohexane, the product, M.P. 84-85 C., was recovered in 24.4% yield. The elemental analysis of the product is as follows:

2 Calculated for C H N O Percent C, 12.99; percent H, 1.31; percent N, 30.31. Found: Percent C, 13.44; percent H, 1.23; percent N, 30.45.

The heat of combustion for this compound was calculated to be 1427 cal/gm. and found to be 1423 caL/grn. The explosive values for this compound are:

Lead block value 196 TNT=i Ballistic mortar value ..-l56 TNT=100 The reaction is preferably conducted at from 5 to 10 C. due to difficulties encountered in controlling the rate of reaction and the formation of undesirable byproducts at higher temperatures. Acetic anhydride was provided to take up the water of reaction thereby shifting the reaction equilibria to the right and thus increasing the yield. The presence of a dehydrating agent such as acetic anhydride is not critical in the practice of this invention but merely serves to increase the yield of the desired product.

1,l,1,3,5,7,7,7-octanitro-3,S-diaza heptane is an excellent high explosive, more than half again as powerful as TNT. In addition it is stable and capable of sustaining combustion independent of an external source of oxygen. It is apparent that this explosive will find valuable applications in industry.

The nitro compound of this invention is useful as a high explosive and can be used in any conventional explosive missile, projectile, rocket, or the like,.as the main explosive charge. closed in United States Patent No. 2,470,162, issued May 17, 1949. One way of using the high explosive of this invention in a device such as that disclosed in United.

States Patent No. 2,470,162, is to pack the crystalline explosive in powder form into the warhead of the missile. Alternatively, the crystals can be first pelletized and then packed. A charge thus prepared is sufiiciently insensitive to withstand the shock entailed in the ejection of a shell from a gun barrel or from a rocket launching tube under the pressure developed from ignition of a propellant charge, and can be caused to explode on operation of an impactor time fuse-mechanism firing a detonating explosive such as lead azide or mercury fulminate.

We claim:

1. As a composition of matter, 1,1,1,3,5,7,7,7-octanitro-3,5-diaza heptane having the structural formula:

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the reaction is con ducted at a temperature of from about 5 to about 10 C. No references cited.

2,978,506 Patented Apr. 4, 1961 An example of such a missile is dis-' 

1. AS A COMPOSITION OF MATTER, 1,1,1,3,5,7,7,7-OCTANITRO-3,5-DIAZA HEPTANE HAVING THE STRUCTURAL FORMULA: 